We must understand that Christianity without the right behaviour is not effective Christianity. We have to start from there. From our text today, what does “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” mean? If you are a believer reading this devotional guide, you made New Year resolutions when you were not born-again, and depending on your willpower, you might have been able to stand by those resolutions. Some people have very strong willpower that can actually carry out all their resolutions. Some people stopped smoking without being born-again, and some people are still smoking after being born-again; all are a function of their willpower.
There are certain things that you can do with your willpower, but they won’t take you to heaven. The willpower in a sinner that made him stop bad behaviours will not qualify him for heaven. Strong willpower in a believer only empowers the right behaviours. That is why God wants to educate you so that He can use your willpower to move you in the right direction.
For example, after I got born-again I made a decision and told God, “I will never be a stumbling block to any of Your daughters.” Some ministers and brothers have callings that cause sisters to stumble. In fact, I told God, “Show me who You want me to marry, I will propose to the person once and get married to the person.” And God is my witness that there is no woman on this planet, dead or alive, that can say Reverend Areogun ever proposed marriage to her. I proposed to only one woman and I am married to her today. That was not an anointing; it was just willpower. I had the willpower and then used it like that.
PRAYER: Lord, I receive the power to walk worthy as a believer in this present world. I rise above the pressures around me in Jesus’ name. Amen!
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28